Let the Wind Blow

Monday, August 11, 2008 -- Week of Proper 13
Clare, Abbess at Assisi, 1253

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 979)
Psalms 89:1-18 (morning) 89:19-52 (evening)
Judges 12:1-7
Acts 5:12-26
John 3:1-21

Reading the story of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus has a playful side to it. Nicodemus is a leader and a member of the Pharisee party. As a Pharisee, he was devoted to holiness and to helping all Jews observe the Biblical mandates in their daily life.

He comes to Jesus at night. Maybe this is some of John's symbolic language -- he comes out of the darkness to Jesus the light of the world. Maybe Nicodemus is hoping his visit will be private and unseen, since Jesus is regarded with some suspicion as one who is not strictly observant of the Torah.

Nicodemus addresses Jesus as "Rabbi." From his perspective it is an address of respect. From John's perspective as narrator, it is a sign that Nicodemus doesn't understand. This is not just a Rabbi; this is the Son of Man.

Jesus' response to Nicodemus is the only instance in John's gospel where he uses the term "kingdom of God," which is so central and characteristic of the other gospels. "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." There are a few words in this narrative that you need to read using dual translations. "Born from above" can also be translated "born anew." Jesus is talking of a radical reorientation and reordering of one's life.

Every time Jesus speaks with metaphor and abstraction, Nicodemus hears Jesus literally. It sets up some absurdities. "How can a grown adult re-enter the womb?" So Jesus poses a different birth, by water and wind/spirit. (The word for wind is also the word for spirit.) Jesus elaborates, but using the plural form of "you." (Here's where Southern speech is helpful.) "Y'all must be born anew/from above. The wind/spirit blows where it chooses, and y'all hear the sound of it, but y'all do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit/wind."

This kind of language is utterly perplexing to a Pharisee like Nicodemus. His entire orientation has been studied and objective. Search the scriptures. Find what God has taught us and teach it. Recover the laws and statutes and commandments, and follow them. Study and obey. Work together with others over the situations that may be ambiguous or hard to understand, until you have a practical, certain, safe, obedient way to live following God's Words in every moment and circumstance of life. Reference everything to the scripture. (There are some churches and some Christians who live this way. I've wondered why they don't name their churches St. Nicodemus.)

But Jesus points to a completely different orientation, a new way of being alive in relationship to God. God is alive, a Spirit that blows like the wind. Ungraspable, unpredictable, free. You are to live that way. Free. Alive. Blown like the wind, driven by the Spirit.

What does love demand? Blow there. How can you exercise compassion? Breathe there. In what surprising guise does the hidden God become manifest? Be surprised and joyful. It is a completely different way of being in the world. Pretty tough for a literalist like Nicodemus who wants everything tacked down in black and white.

St. Clare of Assisi was one of those who heard the wind blow as an eighteen-year-old listening to her neighbor Francis. Wealthy and beautiful, she gave all her possessions away and committed herself to serving God by becoming poor and serving the poor. She became a dynamo of the Spirit.

During her final illness, when commoners, priests and the Pope visited her bedside, she encouraged them to love "holy poverty" by living with generous compassion.

We sometimes use her blessing at the end of our Eucharist. "Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he that created you has sanctified you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be God, for having created me."

That's not a bad prayer to start this day. Let the wind of the Spirit blow.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas